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Maggie O'Dell #7
Black Friday
ブラック・フライデー――1年で最も賑わう感謝祭翌日の金曜日、15万もの人々で込み合うアメリカ最大のショッピングモールで、原因不明の爆発が起きた。粉塵が舞い、悲鳴をあげる人の波が出口へ押し寄せ、地面を揺るがすような大混乱が生じる。誰もがテロの可能性を思い浮かべるなか、休暇中の捜査官マギーも緊急の呼び出しを受けて飛行機に乗り込んだ。まさに悪夢と化した現場で、彼女は防犯カメラの粗い映像をすぐさま調べはじめる。そのときマギーは知る由もなかった。自分の異母弟がこの事件に深くかかわっていることを。
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
247 people are currently reading
2309 people want to read
About the author
Alex Kava
51 books2,586 followersALEX KAVA IS A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR of the critically acclaimed Maggie O’Dell series and a new series featuring former Marine, Ryder Creed and his K9 dogs. Her stand-alone novel, One False Move, was the 2006 One Book One Nebraska. Published in over thirty countries, Kava’s novels have made the bestseller lists in the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, Italy and Poland. Her novel Stranded was awarded both a Florida Book Award and the Nebraska Book Award. She is a member of the Nebraska Writers Guild and International Thriller Writers. Kava divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska and Pensacola, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
December 3, 2016
Black Friday is the 7th book in FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell Series and opens with the bombing of Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota the day after Thanksgiving.
The storyline is frighteningly real and the use of real facts interwoven into the story makes it even more believable.
The plot moves at a good pace....it takes place over a period of 24 hours. The first chapter kicks off really well but then it goes in all these different directions that become confusing and I started losing track of what was going on and who was who.............
I like Maggie O'Dell...but in this book I kind of lost her along the way..........in fact there are no characters that stood out to me.......perhaps Maggie's brother did!!!
There are so many lose ends that never get tied up and we're left up in the air about who the bad and good guys actually are.
Not one of the best in this series.
The storyline is frighteningly real and the use of real facts interwoven into the story makes it even more believable.
The plot moves at a good pace....it takes place over a period of 24 hours. The first chapter kicks off really well but then it goes in all these different directions that become confusing and I started losing track of what was going on and who was who.............
I like Maggie O'Dell...but in this book I kind of lost her along the way..........in fact there are no characters that stood out to me.......perhaps Maggie's brother did!!!
There are so many lose ends that never get tied up and we're left up in the air about who the bad and good guys actually are.
Not one of the best in this series.
July 10, 2016
I read one review of this which said that it appeared the author had phoned this in from a beach somewhere just because she had to. I think I agree.
There was a plot but it ceased to be interesting quite early on and even the author gave up on it judging by the ending which fell very flat. People got rescued from situations in the nick of time but there was no real tension in the build up. Nick Morelli popped up again in a very unlikely fashion. As did Patrick. Meh. I am rapidly talking myself into two stars!
But I will stick with three. Maggie did do a bit of profiling which was good. She did not jump into bed with Nick which was also good. The book was short and moved along quite well and it was readable. I have n0t decided yet whether to continue the series.
There was a plot but it ceased to be interesting quite early on and even the author gave up on it judging by the ending which fell very flat. People got rescued from situations in the nick of time but there was no real tension in the build up. Nick Morelli popped up again in a very unlikely fashion. As did Patrick. Meh. I am rapidly talking myself into two stars!
But I will stick with three. Maggie did do a bit of profiling which was good. She did not jump into bed with Nick which was also good. The book was short and moved along quite well and it was readable. I have n0t decided yet whether to continue the series.
July 12, 2016
It's the day after Thanksgiving and a bomb has gone off at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. Maggie O'Dell's interim assistant director demands that she join him on the case as they, along with the deputy director of Homeland Security, work with local law enforcement to find the perpetrators.
This story had a great premise and showed a lot of promise in the beginning. It kept me hooked through a lot of the story, more than halfway. Unfortunately, it was again plagued with the tiresome relationship plot line (yes, Nick Morelli is back again). It also failed to deliver the excitement it should have because of sudden shifts in direction and lack of follow through. We're given yet another incomplete finale with hastily tied off loose ends. Maggie also seems to be pedaling a stationary bike with respect to her relationships. Ben Platt makes brief appearances, though they are uninspired.
The best part of the story, the most complete, was the inclusion of Maggie's half-brother Patrick. (Most annoying, though, is the author's reference to him as her stepbrother.) Their relationship moved forward significantly. Let's hope it doesn't fizzle the way the rest seem to do in this series. I'm not sure how long I can continue without some serious character growth and development.
This story had a great premise and showed a lot of promise in the beginning. It kept me hooked through a lot of the story, more than halfway. Unfortunately, it was again plagued with the tiresome relationship plot line (yes, Nick Morelli is back again). It also failed to deliver the excitement it should have because of sudden shifts in direction and lack of follow through. We're given yet another incomplete finale with hastily tied off loose ends. Maggie also seems to be pedaling a stationary bike with respect to her relationships. Ben Platt makes brief appearances, though they are uninspired.
The best part of the story, the most complete, was the inclusion of Maggie's half-brother Patrick. (Most annoying, though, is the author's reference to him as her stepbrother.) Their relationship moved forward significantly. Let's hope it doesn't fizzle the way the rest seem to do in this series. I'm not sure how long I can continue without some serious character growth and development.
November 27, 2018
This is the first book I have read by Kava and it wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It begins very well with the terrorist bombing of the Mall or America, then it ventures off into the land of improbability and too many coincidences. Strong start, weak finish.
February 5, 2021
This one was a little disappointing. The potential was there but never manifested itself. I love the O’Dell books. I’m actually a little surprised at this one. 2 Stars might be a touch generous.
The premise was good, home grown terror. The bad guy never got fully fleshed out, not his present or past for that matter. There is going to have to be more on him. Another cliffhanger of sorts. I hate books with cliffhangers.
O’Dell wasn’t herself. Kava wasn’t herself. I hope the next one is better.
The premise was good, home grown terror. The bad guy never got fully fleshed out, not his present or past for that matter. There is going to have to be more on him. Another cliffhanger of sorts. I hate books with cliffhangers.
O’Dell wasn’t herself. Kava wasn’t herself. I hope the next one is better.
July 9, 2016
Americans are rushing to the Mall of America on the Nation's biggest shopping day of the year. No one expects three deadly bombs to be detonated inside that mall. FBI Profiler Maggie O'Dell is called to the scene to construct a profile of the bombers. Why would three young men each carry a red backpack with a lock into the mall? Who were the young man and woman seen on the security tapes entering the mall with one of the bombers? Maggie has her work cut out for her to discover the motive behind the explosions, especially when she learns that there are more incidents planned for this weekend.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It was fast moving and suspenseful. I liked that Maggie uses her strengths to help determine what exactly happened in that mall and who is behind the deadly bombings. But I didn't like the non-resolution of the story. My rating: 4 Stars.
I had a hard time putting this book down. It was fast moving and suspenseful. I liked that Maggie uses her strengths to help determine what exactly happened in that mall and who is behind the deadly bombings. But I didn't like the non-resolution of the story. My rating: 4 Stars.
November 5, 2022
Ich mag Maggie einfach und auch ihre Entwicklung finde ich über die Bücher hinweg gut. Dieser Band war gut geschrieben und las sich durchweg spannend. Ich freue mich auf den nächsten Band!
October 6, 2011
Another Agent Maggie O'Dell story, and this one was probably my least favourite. Maggie, as a character, is not developing in any way. Once again, there are two men vieing for her affections, the ever patient Nick Morelli, lesser men would have given up on her long before now, and Benjamin Platt, who made his first appearance in the previous book, Exposed. Still no sign of Maggie being ready for a relationship with anyone, other than her work. Now, she also has a boss she intensely dislikes and the feeling seems to be mutual and her young half brother, Patrick, features in this one, and what I found annoying, was that she constantly referred to him as her step-brother. Does Ms. Kava not know the difference between the two? Anyway, the premise of the story wasn't bad, the largest Shopping Mall in the U.S., is hit by three bombs on Thanksgiving weekend. The bombs are carried in backpacks, by three students who think they are carrying jamming devices and the worst that will happen is they will cause havoc with computers and electrical devices, interrupting trade. The whole reasoning behind the story was way too complex, and just didn't make a whole lot of sense. This was reading like a book Ms. Kava, only half thought out and lost interest in, so she rushed it and was lazy with the whole concept. The end was far from her usual fast paced action, it was dull and lifeless. Disappointed, no conclusion, no answers, only loose ends. I'm going to go ahead and read "Damaged", but I am seriously thinking of giving up on Alex Kava and Maggie O'Dell, and if Nick Morelli were a real person, I'd advise him to do the same.
July 18, 2015
I've read several Kava's books, but I must say that one is a little disappointing. There are all most important characters from the series, interesting ideas who are they going to search but... When the intrigue is built, it finishes to soon. It should have more pages, more descriptions of main characters relations like Maggie - Nick, Maggie and her brother and so on. But if you have some free time and you're looking for a light book to read from time to time - it's worth reading;)
August 26, 2016
What better time and place for a terrorist plot than a bombing at the Mall of American on the day after Thanksgiving. Maggie gets involved in a very personal way.
October 18, 2025
Alex Kava schafft es immer wieder mich zu Fesseln. Blutiger Freitag, ist von Anfang bis Ende spannend.
July 3, 2011
I zoomed through book 7 of the Maggie O'Dell series and not just because it's a fairly short novel. Actually, there's a whole lot of quality packed into this story, the bulk of which takes place over a 24-hour period. That 24 hours starts on the Friday after Thanksgiving with a bombing at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The mall is packed with (what some of us consider crazy) people taking part in the now-traditional Black Friday shopping frenzy, and the bombers are college kids who have been lied to about the contents of the backpacks they have agreed to carry through the mall. When two of the three are killed in the explosion, the surviving three realize they have been used and are now probably in danger as "loose ends" that must be tied off, permanently. Then, perhaps to keep them from slacking on any of that, there's another attack planned for an unknown airport less than 48 hours later. Maggie and the local authorities have to find and protect the surviving kids, figure out what airport is the target, discover who's behind the plot and prevent the airport bombing. It's a tall order and one with a high emotional impact, as Maggie's halfbrother Patrick is one of the surviving college students who was pulled into this horrific plot and who can identify the man who arranged the attacks, but not without putting himself in extreme danger. Oh, and Maggie's former love interest Nick Morelli plays a big role here, too.
Somehow, Kava keeps all these balls in the air. She has written an engrossing whirlwind of a novel that touches on all our secret fears of terrorism (even the domestic kind) disrupting our seemingly safe worlds and lives... and confirmed my inner suspicion that going shopping the day after Turkey Day could be lethal and that airport travel on holiday weekends is a bad idea all around.
Well done, Kava! This one is a solid win.
Somehow, Kava keeps all these balls in the air. She has written an engrossing whirlwind of a novel that touches on all our secret fears of terrorism (even the domestic kind) disrupting our seemingly safe worlds and lives... and confirmed my inner suspicion that going shopping the day after Turkey Day could be lethal and that airport travel on holiday weekends is a bad idea all around.
Well done, Kava! This one is a solid win.
April 9, 2019
Is Maggie O'Dell actually an FBI profiler? She only seems to investigate conspiracy theories these days. This time it's a terrorist plot that her half brother Patrick has been dragged into. Her investigation also reunites her with on-off sorta love interest Nick Morelli.
Yes, that's right. Nick Morelli. The one who started the series as a small-town sheriff, then later returned to his prosecutor roots. Except now in this book he's the head of a security firm. Kava is finding ridiculously contrived ways to keep him in the series. And it's not even clear why! Nothing in regards to their relationship is explored, moved in a new direction or tied up.
(I think even Kava realised how ludicrous it was getting, as I believe Nick was mostly phased out after this book.)
As for Maggie's profiling skills, does she actually use them? No, not really. We're not provided any insight whatsoever into the mastermind's motives. He sets about completing his nefarious terrorist activities, seemingly for shits and giggles, and because Maggie is pretty useless at her job,
The Maggie O'Dell series was always a pretty average/slightly above average series, but this one was the start of a very significant slump which moved away from Maggie profiling serial killers and instead investigating conspiracy theories, with plots that were very thin (most of the rest of the books) or completely and utterly incoherent (Hotwire). If you're reading the series for the first time, I advise you to chuck it in here. It only gets worse!
Yes, that's right. Nick Morelli. The one who started the series as a small-town sheriff, then later returned to his prosecutor roots. Except now in this book he's the head of a security firm. Kava is finding ridiculously contrived ways to keep him in the series. And it's not even clear why! Nothing in regards to their relationship is explored, moved in a new direction or tied up.
(I think even Kava realised how ludicrous it was getting, as I believe Nick was mostly phased out after this book.)
As for Maggie's profiling skills, does she actually use them? No, not really. We're not provided any insight whatsoever into the mastermind's motives. He sets about completing his nefarious terrorist activities, seemingly for shits and giggles, and because Maggie is pretty useless at her job,
The Maggie O'Dell series was always a pretty average/slightly above average series, but this one was the start of a very significant slump which moved away from Maggie profiling serial killers and instead investigating conspiracy theories, with plots that were very thin (most of the rest of the books) or completely and utterly incoherent (Hotwire). If you're reading the series for the first time, I advise you to chuck it in here. It only gets worse!
December 4, 2013
I should have read this book last week for an even bigger effect!
After reading this book, I still don't understand why people want to be in big crowds in big malls during big sales!!! My how life has really changed after 9/11 and also after events before this. Scary actually.
Well written again using facts and making it her story - really, really liking Alex Kava's books!
After reading this book, I still don't understand why people want to be in big crowds in big malls during big sales!!! My how life has really changed after 9/11 and also after events before this. Scary actually.
Well written again using facts and making it her story - really, really liking Alex Kava's books!
November 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this 7th book in her Maggie O'Dell series!
December 30, 2024
Tytuł "Czarny piątek" można w tej książce rozumieć na dwa sposoby. Pierwszy taki najbardziej kojarzący się - słynne amerykańskie wyprzedaże, gromadzące tłumy ludzi w centrach handlowych. Co jeśli dodamy do tego drugie dno i czarny piątek stanie się czarnym dniem na kartach historii państwa? W centrum handlowym, w godzinach szczytu zamachowcy dokonują masakry. Na miejsce przyjeżdża nasza Maggie O’Dell i spróbuje rozwikłać kto za tym wszystkim stoi. Jednak szybko okazuje się, że na tym główny pomysłodawca nie poprzestanie i planuje kolejną masakrę.
Kolejna książka Kavy za mną. Po trochę mniej udanym "Zabójczym wirusie" wracamy powoli na te lepsze tory. Jeszcze to nie jest to co autorka potrafiła zaoferować w pierwszych tomach serii, ale ogólnie jest lepiej. Wracamy do sensacji, dynamicznej akcji oraz presji czasu. Jeżeli w ciągu doby nie znajdzie się pomysłodawca zamachu to może dojść do kolejnej ogromnej tragedii. Autorka wpłata pewne elementy, które mają trochę podkręcić atmosferę, ale akurat one na mnie słabo podziałały. To co nie spasowało mi do końca to było ciągle powracanie do końcowych wydarzeń z "Wirusa", o których nie mogę nic powiedzieć, bo zaspojleruję zakończenie. Rozumiem, że to mogło obudzić w Maggie gonitwę różnych myśli jak również uruchomić obwinianie się o to co się stało, ale to było zbyt często wykorzystywane, a pełniło to rolę typowego zapychacza.
Zostawię taką samą ocenę jak przy "Wirusie", bo wiem, że autorkę stać na więcej.
Kolejna książka Kavy za mną. Po trochę mniej udanym "Zabójczym wirusie" wracamy powoli na te lepsze tory. Jeszcze to nie jest to co autorka potrafiła zaoferować w pierwszych tomach serii, ale ogólnie jest lepiej. Wracamy do sensacji, dynamicznej akcji oraz presji czasu. Jeżeli w ciągu doby nie znajdzie się pomysłodawca zamachu to może dojść do kolejnej ogromnej tragedii. Autorka wpłata pewne elementy, które mają trochę podkręcić atmosferę, ale akurat one na mnie słabo podziałały. To co nie spasowało mi do końca to było ciągle powracanie do końcowych wydarzeń z "Wirusa", o których nie mogę nic powiedzieć, bo zaspojleruję zakończenie. Rozumiem, że to mogło obudzić w Maggie gonitwę różnych myśli jak również uruchomić obwinianie się o to co się stało, ale to było zbyt często wykorzystywane, a pełniło to rolę typowego zapychacza.
Zostawię taką samą ocenę jak przy "Wirusie", bo wiem, że autorkę stać na więcej.
September 26, 2015
The seventh book in author Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell's series. "Black Friday", is the day after Thanksgiving in which retailers rely on to make their maximum yearly profit from the fourth quarter in sales. The Largest mall in the United States is in Minnesota. The "Mall of America" usually greets 150,000- 200,000 shoppers on a typical black Friday. However this year is going to be different. Four unwitting college students are carrying exactly the same type of backpacks and wandering the the Mall Of America. They believe they are part of a protest to create havoc on the retailers who have locations in the mall. They believe their backpacks are merely for disrupting computer functions going from store to store. How naive these students actually are. The Backpacks are all locked so the students really don't know what they are carrying around the mall. As these pawns meet up in the food court, a madman with a remote detonator sets off the bombs in these four backpacks. Four wild explosions rock through the mall. 43 shoppers are killed, and 200 plus shoppers are hurt. Two of the backpack bombers are killed as well. FBI Profiler Maggie O'Dell is ordered to mall to help establish what happened. There she once again comes across Nick Morrelli. Like a bad penny, Maggie just can't seem to shake Nick out of her life for good. For the most part a pretty good read. Much stronger than book six in series, "Exposed". "Black Friday" has some pretty well defined characters to drive the plot. With Kyle Cunningham dead from book six, Maggie has a new boss who is not her biggest fan. Some of Maggie's usual characters are not really in this particular novel. Dr. Gwen Patterson, and O'Dell's partner R.J. Tulley are pretty much missing in this outing. I thought it was a good lite read to breeze through on a late summer's day. I read in about 24 hours. I'd recommend "Black Friday", for those not looking for anything complicated but breezy. I've rated it three stars out of a possible five stars. ( Could really be like a 3.25 star book). All in all a satisfying read. Author Alex Kava's novels never really go too deep under the surface and stay safe wading along within the shallow end of pool. Would love to see O'Dell get a life outside of crazy crimes she ends up being assigned to.. Romance and maybe some sex could liven this series up a bunch. Check out the series. I've read 7 of the 11 books so far. For the most part the enjoyment of reading Kava's books overcome the vanilla they live in. Have some fun with the series.
October 2, 2015
I liked when this one opened and it was set at the Mall of America. I live near there and I like reading about books set where I live.
While I would never step foot in the MOA at the holidays, (it's a zoo!) I hated what happened there, hated even more that the supposed "bad guys" were taken advantage of. I thought it was interesting how Maggie and Nick ended up at the same disaster, more interesting was how Maggie didn't trust Nick right from the start. It definitely made things sticky for them. I really liked when Nick realized what Maggie thought, it really seemed to shake his sense of self.
Maggie's thought process fro going after who was really behind things was different. Once again it was some odd thinking, especially when you added in Maggie's new boss. The new boss seemed to muck things up and even after I'm done reading the book I still don't know what to think of him and if he is on the up and up.
I did like how the events of this book brought Maggie closer with her brother. I was a bit worried a couple of times during the action, especially at the end. But going forward I have a feeling that they each will let the other in their life.
While I would never step foot in the MOA at the holidays, (it's a zoo!) I hated what happened there, hated even more that the supposed "bad guys" were taken advantage of. I thought it was interesting how Maggie and Nick ended up at the same disaster, more interesting was how Maggie didn't trust Nick right from the start. It definitely made things sticky for them. I really liked when Nick realized what Maggie thought, it really seemed to shake his sense of self.
Maggie's thought process fro going after who was really behind things was different. Once again it was some odd thinking, especially when you added in Maggie's new boss. The new boss seemed to muck things up and even after I'm done reading the book I still don't know what to think of him and if he is on the up and up.
I did like how the events of this book brought Maggie closer with her brother. I was a bit worried a couple of times during the action, especially at the end. But going forward I have a feeling that they each will let the other in their life.
October 8, 2010
Love the characters in this ongoing series.
Interesting plot, leading into the next book quite nicely.
Interesting plot, leading into the next book quite nicely.
November 24, 2017
3.5 stars
Chilling and incredibly relevant. White supremacist groups, domestic terrorism, profiling - it hit all the hot button topics. Really liked Maggie and although these are recurring characters, Ms. Kava didn't make reading any prior Maggie O'Dell books a requirement, as she detailed past cases and interactions without detracting from the current plot.
Chilling and incredibly relevant. White supremacist groups, domestic terrorism, profiling - it hit all the hot button topics. Really liked Maggie and although these are recurring characters, Ms. Kava didn't make reading any prior Maggie O'Dell books a requirement, as she detailed past cases and interactions without detracting from the current plot.
August 23, 2021
This was a super great read. I felt so bad for the kids who thought they had jammers in their backpacks but were actually bombs. I hate that so many people were killed in the explosion. I'm glad they were able to stop the explosion at the airport from happening but I hate that one of the guys got away. This was a suspenseful read and I loved it. 5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2023
2.75/5
Powoli moja przygoda z Maggie się kończy, ale większość pozycji z tej serii, włącznie z tą, były całkiem przyjemne i dało się przez nie przebrnąć bez większego wysiłku. Nie jestem jednak pewna czy właśnie ta w zupełności przypadła mi do gustu. Była po prostu okej.
Powoli moja przygoda z Maggie się kończy, ale większość pozycji z tej serii, włącznie z tą, były całkiem przyjemne i dało się przez nie przebrnąć bez większego wysiłku. Nie jestem jednak pewna czy właśnie ta w zupełności przypadła mi do gustu. Była po prostu okej.
February 3, 2019
This was a very enjoyable read which shows some authors are quite adept at writing a series which remains fresh and entertaining. The plot centered on domestic terrorism at the Mall of America on the day after Thanksgiving. Great plot and characters including a focus on Maggie O’Dell’s brother. Well written and very entertaining on a long plane ride.
November 6, 2020
Goed opgebouwd verhaal.
January 12, 2024
Love this series of books, the characters are brilliant. Great storyline with twists and turns.
December 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
Whatever it takes.
When you read this novel and its unusual twist on terrorism, you'll understand.
Whatever it takes.
When you read this novel and its unusual twist on terrorism, you'll understand.
November 24, 2020
There was no closure at the end. It was hard for me to get into it and then it took off and then...nothing. It ended.
August 22, 2012
What do we call this sub-genre of the thriller? Paranoia-porn? There definitely seems to be a number of titles with the same general theme now we are a safe distance from 9-11. Certainly there are long shadows of other writers cast here, Tom Clancy or David Baldacci rather than the Dan Brown suggested by the cover blurb.
My first foray into the world of Maggie O'Dell, although the seventh book in her saga, deals with the enemy within. Terrorists strike at a soft target in heartland USA, but not is all it seems and we are soon engaged in a race against time to stop a second attack, but where?
The overall story is quite good, but it seems rushed, which leads me to what I saw as weaknesses in the book. We are not dealing with ordinary mortals here, oh no! Maggie herself is a cape and mask away from her own comic book. Not only a brilliant profiler, fearless in action and with men falling breathless at her feet, she also has a tortured past and friends, enemies and entanglements galore. She has also faced death in previous books, actually she seems to have shaken his hand, walked his dog and been to a matinée with him. There may be a second toothbrush in her bathroom. It seems a minor miracle that the worst thing that happens to her are bruised ribs from leaping onto a teenager while heroically saving his life. In short she draws very close to Mary-Suedom of the first water.
Some of this may be compression, the previous four books may have carefully drawn this history out of her, why she doesn't drink, actually a refreshing change from the functional alcoholics we have met before but somehow less fun, her relationships with other people, three potential romances so far, one boss who mentored her, the new boss who is less understanding.
The last is very telling; this is a conflict into which we are thrown into the deep end, I assume there were differences before he took over as her boss buy all we get initially is that he seems to be a spiteful bully hanging our heroine out to dry. He comes to appreciate her qualities as the book progresses but despite this she trusts him far less at the end of the book. Is this because she sees him as cowed by his earlier failures or that, having earned his trust and respect, he has become irrelevant, unimportant. From another point of view she may have transferred her loyalty to Wurth of the NSA, a stranger who just happens to be a closer copy of her old boss?
We want our heroes to be bigger than life, but we need them to be flawed, to be human, to be interesting. Maggie seems out of the reach of humanity. We need more than not trusting people and not wanting to drink, which is a further reflection of a lack of trust but directed at herself. Something she doesn't have a problem with if there is a plot point at hand. She is also extremely judgemental, despite not liking it when it happens to her.
So why two stars? I liked it with a bit of tooth sucking from time to time, it rattles along fairly well, but there is no actual puzzle here, odd in a book calling itself a thriller. Certainly the ending is a bit sharp and given the build-up, anticlimactic.
There is an unfortunate degree of coincidence in drawing at least three of the characters together here, too many instant solutions to problems that take days to wrangle into submission. The sheer monolithic graft required is replaced with godlike brilliance and, the gods help us, “gut feeling”. Were there half stars I'd give it two and a half but as it stands it doesn't deserve three.
My first foray into the world of Maggie O'Dell, although the seventh book in her saga, deals with the enemy within. Terrorists strike at a soft target in heartland USA, but not is all it seems and we are soon engaged in a race against time to stop a second attack, but where?
The overall story is quite good, but it seems rushed, which leads me to what I saw as weaknesses in the book. We are not dealing with ordinary mortals here, oh no! Maggie herself is a cape and mask away from her own comic book. Not only a brilliant profiler, fearless in action and with men falling breathless at her feet, she also has a tortured past and friends, enemies and entanglements galore. She has also faced death in previous books, actually she seems to have shaken his hand, walked his dog and been to a matinée with him. There may be a second toothbrush in her bathroom. It seems a minor miracle that the worst thing that happens to her are bruised ribs from leaping onto a teenager while heroically saving his life. In short she draws very close to Mary-Suedom of the first water.
Some of this may be compression, the previous four books may have carefully drawn this history out of her, why she doesn't drink, actually a refreshing change from the functional alcoholics we have met before but somehow less fun, her relationships with other people, three potential romances so far, one boss who mentored her, the new boss who is less understanding.
The last is very telling; this is a conflict into which we are thrown into the deep end, I assume there were differences before he took over as her boss buy all we get initially is that he seems to be a spiteful bully hanging our heroine out to dry. He comes to appreciate her qualities as the book progresses but despite this she trusts him far less at the end of the book. Is this because she sees him as cowed by his earlier failures or that, having earned his trust and respect, he has become irrelevant, unimportant. From another point of view she may have transferred her loyalty to Wurth of the NSA, a stranger who just happens to be a closer copy of her old boss?
We want our heroes to be bigger than life, but we need them to be flawed, to be human, to be interesting. Maggie seems out of the reach of humanity. We need more than not trusting people and not wanting to drink, which is a further reflection of a lack of trust but directed at herself. Something she doesn't have a problem with if there is a plot point at hand. She is also extremely judgemental, despite not liking it when it happens to her.
So why two stars? I liked it with a bit of tooth sucking from time to time, it rattles along fairly well, but there is no actual puzzle here, odd in a book calling itself a thriller. Certainly the ending is a bit sharp and given the build-up, anticlimactic.
There is an unfortunate degree of coincidence in drawing at least three of the characters together here, too many instant solutions to problems that take days to wrangle into submission. The sheer monolithic graft required is replaced with godlike brilliance and, the gods help us, “gut feeling”. Were there half stars I'd give it two and a half but as it stands it doesn't deserve three.
November 23, 2016
Black Friday
3 Stars
Synopsis
Black Friday, the busiest shopping day in America, and three young men are about to wreak havoc by detonating an EMP pulse in the Mall of America. Unbeknownst to them, they are actually pawns in a much larger and deadlier conspiracy that will leave dozens dead and FBI profiler, Maggie O'Dell in a race against time to prevent an even more catastrophic terror attack.
Review
A good premise but the execution is poor and the finale does not deliver.
This is supposed to be a "race against time" scenario but the pace is slow and there is no sense of urgency. The book also finishes with too many loose ends and unanswered questions - .
The writing is choppy with events occurring out of the blue with no exposition or development . The chapters are also very short, often 2-3 pages, which makes it difficult to became engaged with the storyline.
Once again, there is little to no character growth - the cat and mouse between Maggie and Nick is getting old - too many hurt feelings and lack of trust. It is time to either put up or shut up with this relationship. On the other hand, Maggie's half-brother, Patrick Murphy, is given some much needed page time and the sections about him are enjoyable.
One positive aspect of the plot involves the exploration of the John Doe #2 conspiracy theory following the Oklahoma Bombing - as a non-American, this is my first time hearing about this and it added an interesting element to the terrorist plot.
On a final note, the book references numerous events from previous installments and it might be difficult for first time readers of the series to follow.
Overall, a disappointing addition and I hope that the next one will be better.
3 Stars
Synopsis
Black Friday, the busiest shopping day in America, and three young men are about to wreak havoc by detonating an EMP pulse in the Mall of America. Unbeknownst to them, they are actually pawns in a much larger and deadlier conspiracy that will leave dozens dead and FBI profiler, Maggie O'Dell in a race against time to prevent an even more catastrophic terror attack.
Review
A good premise but the execution is poor and the finale does not deliver.
This is supposed to be a "race against time" scenario but the pace is slow and there is no sense of urgency. The book also finishes with too many loose ends and unanswered questions - .
The writing is choppy with events occurring out of the blue with no exposition or development . The chapters are also very short, often 2-3 pages, which makes it difficult to became engaged with the storyline.
Once again, there is little to no character growth - the cat and mouse between Maggie and Nick is getting old - too many hurt feelings and lack of trust. It is time to either put up or shut up with this relationship. On the other hand, Maggie's half-brother, Patrick Murphy, is given some much needed page time and the sections about him are enjoyable.
One positive aspect of the plot involves the exploration of the John Doe #2 conspiracy theory following the Oklahoma Bombing - as a non-American, this is my first time hearing about this and it added an interesting element to the terrorist plot.
On a final note, the book references numerous events from previous installments and it might be difficult for first time readers of the series to follow.
Overall, a disappointing addition and I hope that the next one will be better.
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